Duplex tone changing and adjusting



T. MACHINO Sept. 23, 1941.

DUP LEX TONE CHANGING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR HARMONICAS' Filed June 12, 1941 Z gl Q J? 51,? 470474727474747474747474747474747474747 INVENTOR 7 75 0 I; z 'n o A TTORNEYJ.

Patented Sept. 23, 1941 DUPLEX TONE CHANGING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR HARMONICAS Torahachi Machino, Tokyo-Shi, Japan Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,773 In Japan September 28, 1940 1 Claim.

This invention relates to duplex tone changing and adjusting devices for harmonicas.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind by which monotones and multitones are freely given forth during playing, intervals between monotones, multitones and cessations are clearly made by eliminating mixed tones, clearing tones, and multiplying inhaling and exhaling of monotones.

The further object of the invention is to overcome the intonation of multitones which has been considered impossible in the ordinary instruments and also to readily prevent feeble intonation or non-intonation which often may arise, without giving heavy inhale or exhale, or special arts.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplex tone changing and adjusting device embodying the invention and mounted on harmonicas indicated in the dash and dot lines;

Fig. 2' is a vertical sectional view at right angle to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cap portion of the device, partly in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body portion of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 4, with packing sheets, partly in section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, l represents a duplex tone changing and adjusting device embodying the invention, which is securely and tightly mounted on the breathing ends of the openings of two harmonicas 2 as indicated in the dash and dot lines, which are disposed in juxta-position with the openings directed upwards and in the same order, suitable packing sheets 3 being in serted between the device and the harmonicas.

The device I is made in two section 4 and 5, of which the section 4 may be referred to as body, and the section 5 may be referred to as cap.

The body 4 is formed with substantially square openings 6 of the same number as those of the breathing openings of harmonicas 2 and correspondingly thereto closely aligned, and extensions 1 of the cross partitions 8 between the square openings 5. The lower half of each extension as indicated at 9 in Fig. 4 is formed in a semi-circular shape, and the upper half as indicated at I0 is also formed in a semi-circular hape, but larger than the lower half in diameter, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The inside of the body 4 between two adjacent extensions I of the cross partitions 8 is formed with a semi-annular space, as seen in Fig. 4. The square openings 5 in the longitudinal row in either outer side are communicated in each pair corresponding to an expiring opening and an adjacent inhaling opening of the harmonicas on the underside of the body by cutting off a part of the cross partition at the lower end to suitable depth, such as about one half of the length of a side of the square opening 6, as indicated at II in Figs. 4 and 5. The packing sheets 3 are apparently formed with perforations corresponding to and registering with the openings 6 and H in the body 4, as seen in Fig. 5.

The cap 5 of the device I is formed in the crown I2 with a row of rectangular breathing openings I3 spaced as much as the square openings 6 in the body 4, and of the same number as the square openings 6 in a longitudinal row. The inside of the crown is arched of thesame radius as the lower half of the extension I of the cross partition 8 in the body 4 or the semi-annular space in the inside of the body 4 between two adjacent extensions 1 of the cross partitions 8, as indicated at l4 in Fig. 3, and is formed with semi-circular grooves [5 adapted to fittingly rebe formed between each pair of the extension 1 ceive the edge part l6 (Fig. 4) of .each semi-circular upper half ID of the extension of the cross partitions 8 in the body 4, so that when the cap 5 is mounted on the body 4 an annular space will body 4 tightly engages with the groove I5 in the cap 5, and the aprons ll of the cap tightly engages with the parts I8 of the body, the shoulders 42 tightly abutting on the upper edges 43 of the body, and each breathing opening l3 communicate with corresponding crosswise four openings 6 in the body 4 through corresponding annular space between the extensions 1 of the cross partitions 8. In each annular space, a sector valve l9 having a shallow depression 44 (Fig. 3) excepting its rim portion on either side face is disposed for controlling the communication between the breathing opening l3 in the cap 5 and the openings 6 in the body 4. The sector valves I9 are splined to a shaft 20 transversely extending through the cap 4 so as to permit said valve to be rotated with said shaft. Either end of the shaft is journalled in the end plates 2| attached to the cap I 2 by suitable means, such as screws 22. One end of the shaft 20 is extended outwards from the end plate 2| and carries a pulley 23 secured thereto. A larger pulley 24 is rotatably supported on the end plate 2| to co-operate with the smaller pulley 23 through means of a belt 25 on them. On the shaft 26 of the pulley 24 is secured a ham dle 21 by which the pulleys 24 and 23, and hence the sector valves 19 may be rotated in either direction. In order to prevent the slip of the belt 25, said belt may be provided with a series of perforations 28 adapted to engage with small pins 29 and 30 provided on the pulleys 23 and 24 re-.

ings in the intermediate rows, a circular disk 3| is secured to the shaft 20, WhiChiS provided with an arched slot 32' adapted to be engaged by a' pin 33 having a knob 34, which is supported by; means of an end plate 2| of the cap and a.

housing 35 attached to said end plate, extending through them and normally being kept in the withdrawn position by means of a spring 36 arranged between the housing 35 and the end plate 2|, as seen in Fig. 3. It will be noted that when the sector valve I9 is rotated to open the opening 6 the cross section of the passage between the inside Wall 31 of the cap 5 and the ridge 38 of the sector valve will be reduced due tosaid ridge.

The device I may be associated with the harmonicas by securing the extensions 39 of the end plates 2| to a member 49 (Fig. 2) interposed between the harmonicas by means of screws 4|, or by any other suitable means. In assembling the parts, all the parts in the passage of the breathing must be made air-tight by using suitable packing, or by close fitting, or by suitable clamping.

In operation, the device associated with the harmonicas is handled as a unit, and is breathed through the breathing openings [3.

When the handle 21 is rotated, the sector valves [9 will be readily moved at a higher speed due to the diameter of the pulley 24 being larger than that of the pulley 23. With the valves IS in the position shown in Fig. 2, all the openings 6 are not communicated with the breathing openings It. When the valves l9 rotate in the counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2, first the openings 6 in the longitudinal.

row on the leftmost-hand side will be communicated with the breathing openings [3, and then the openings 6 in the adjacent longitudinal row will also be communicated with the breathing openings, at the end of the counterclockwise rotation of the valves. On the contrary, when the valves I9 are rotated in the clockwise direction ,from the position shown in Fig. 2, first the openings 6 in the longitudinal row on the rightmost-hand side will be communicated with the breathing openings [3, and then the openings 6 in the adjacent longitudinal row will also be communicated with the breathing openings, at the end of the clockwise rotation of the valves. When the pin 33 is brought in engagement with the slot 32, by pushing the knob 34, the movement of the sector valves i9 is restricted so as to open merely openings in the longitudinal row on either outer side. Thus, monotone or'multitcne or sharp tone may be adjusted as desired on playing the harmonicas with the device applied thereto. As the cross section of the passage between the inside a wall 31 of the cap 5 and the ridge 38 of the duced passage, whereby the sounding of reeds will 'be enhanced, and the sounding function will not be lowered, even if the passage of the breathing air is relatively long as in the present case. The shallow depression 44 formed on either side of the sector valve l9 acts as an auxiliary air passage to relieve the volume of sound in case of a heavy breathing. The communication of two ad-- jacent openings as indicated at l l serves to define reeds and tremolos, and. generally enhance the volume of sound, as the breathing through two adjacent openings will pass through one expiring or inhaling opening of the harmonicas. Thus, due to various effects; the rise of mixed tones are completely removed, the quality of tone are purified and the intervals between tones and between tone and pauses are clearly and smoothly realized, thereby qualifying itself with such important characteristics that in either monotone or multitone play octavo-base may be applied as desired. Either of two harmonicas may be replaced with one for high or low tones, as desired. There is still another advantage over the ordinary device in that the sector valves for changing tone are not liable to harm the tip of thetongue of the players.

I claim: 7

A duplex tone changing and adjusting device for harmonicas comprising a body member and acap member in combination to provide at the top with a number of breathing openings and at the bottom with a number of breathing openings, four for each opening at the top, each opening at the top being communicated with corresponding four openings at the bottom by means of an annular space, a number of sector valves, one for each annular space, adapted to be rotated in either direction on a shaft to control the communication of the opening at the top with the corresponding four openings at the bottom as desired, means of restricting the rotation of the sector valves and means of rotating the sector valves on the shaft.

TORAHACHI MACHINO. 

